COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Head Football Coach Eli Drinkwitz has shored up another key spot on his coaching staff, and he’s chosen Ryan Walters, who has coached at MU for the past five seasons, to serve as defensive coordinator. Position-specific duties for Walters will be announced once the staff has been finalized.
Walters, who came to Mizzou in 2015 as safeties coach, has served as defensive coordinator for the past two years, and he has overseen an impressive transformation of the Tiger defense into one of the SEC’s top units. In 2019, Walters’ defense ranked in the nation’s Top 20 in several major categories, including total defense (14th NCAA/3rd SEC– 312.0 avg.) and scoring defense (17th NCAA/6th SEC – 19.4 avg., while excelling as a Top 10 pass defense (eighth in passing yards allowed NCAA/second SEC – 179.3 avg.).
Under Walters’ direction in 2019, a pair of junior safeties – Tyree Gillespie and Joshuah Bledsoe – developed into big play fixtures in the secondary as they ranked second and third on the team, respectively, in tackles. Gillespie finished the year with 50 stops, seven pass break-ups, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while Bledsoe was close behind with 49 tackles, four tackles for loss and a team-best 10 pass break-ups. Additionally, two Tiger defenders earned All-America honors in 2019, including junior DT Jordan Elliott (1st-Team Pro Football Focus, 2nd-Team Associated Press) and sophomore LB Nick Bolton (3rd-Team Pro Football Focus).
“Since connecting with Ryan I’ve been very impressed with his ability to lead people and connect with the players,” said Drinkwitz. “I’m impressed with his work on the defensive side of the ball, I look forward to building on what’s already been established, the foundation that’s been laid. I look forward to Coach Walters leading a championship-style defense here at Mizzou.”
Walters took the reins as Mizzou’s defensive coordinator permanently for the 2018 season. During the course of the season, the defense’s improved play was a big factor in MU’s 4-0 romp through November on the way to an eight-win season and a bid to the 2018 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to continue to build on what we’ve done defensively this past season,” said Walters. “We’ve got a good group of guys coming back and they’re excited to get to work. Columbia has been very good to me and my family and we’re thrilled to be part of the community and Mizzou. I’m excited to work with Coach Drink, he’s one of the most respected bright minds in our profession, and I’ve been impressed with his energy, organization and vision in our short time together. I’m looking forward to competing under his leadership and getting us on top of the SEC East.”
Walters' defense made huge strides in 2018 from the previous year in a handful of significant statistical categories. His squad ranked 22nd nationally in rushing defense (126.5 avg., up from 58th in 2017 (159.6, and improved to 50th in scoring defense in 2018 (25.5 avg., up from 97th in 2017 (31.8 avg., while also making a big jump in total defense, ranking 62nd nationally in 2018 (388.5 avg., up from 82nd in 2017 (414.1 avg.).
As the Tiger secondary coach, Walters oversaw a unit that made big strides during the course of the season. Junior CB DeMarkus Acy led the charge as he earned second-team All-SEC honors by league coaches for his stellar play down the stretch. Acy led Mizzou and ranked fourth in the SEC with three interceptions, while he was second on the team with 10 pass break-ups. Senior safety Cam Hilton closed his Tiger career in fine fashion, as he picked off a pair of Oklahoma State passes in the 2018 AutoZone Liberty Bowl that helped set the stage for a late Tiger rally that nearly led to a thrilling come-from-behind win.
The development of sophomore CB Christian Holmes over the second half of the 2018 season coincided nicely with the defense's improvement late in the year, as Holmes led the team with 12 pass break-ups, while nabbing a pair of interceptions - including one he returned 42 yards for his first career touchdown during an important Homecoming win over Memphis.
In December of 2017, Walters was promoted to the position of defensive coordinator before Mizzou's 2017 Texas Bowl appearance. Prior to the 2017 season, Walters assumed control of the entire secondary, after focusing on the safeties in his first two years with the program.
Walters oversaw a secondary that developed nicely during the stretch run of the 2017 season, as his group played a key role in Mizzou’s defensive resurgence that helped lead to its six-game winning streak which led to Mizzou receiving a bid to play in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl against Texas.
Eight of Mizzou’s 12 interceptions gained in 2017 came during the final five games, with six of those going to Walters’ secondary. Senior safety Anthony Sherrils had a pair of pick-offs during that stretch, as did true freshman corner Adam Sparks, who emerged late in the year as a solid contributor despite his youth.
Walters came to MU from Memphis in February of 2015 and was a key factor in Mizzou’s 2015 defense that finished in the Top 10 nationally in total defense, scoring defense and pass defense. He came to Mizzou after spending the 2014 season as cornerbacks coach at Memphis, where he oversaw a defense that was among the most improved in the nation. Memphis went 10-3 in 2014, thanks in large part to its defense that ranked fifth nationally in points allowed (17.1 avg.) and 22nd in total defense (343.3 avg.) in the regular season.
A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Walters played collegiately at Colorado, where he was a standout safety for the Buffaloes (2004-08). He began his coaching career as a student assistant at Colorado working with the secondary in 2009, and then spent two years on staff at Arizona, where he was a graduate assistant in 2010, before being promoted to defensive backs coach for the 2011 season.
From there, Walters moved to Oklahoma as a graduate assistant cornerbacks coach in 2012, as the Sooners went 10-3 and played in the 2013 Cotton Bowl. He moved to North Texas for the 2013 season, where he coached corners and helped lead UNT to a 9-4 record in its first year in Conference USA and a win in the 2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl. The Mean Green defense that season ranked fourth nationally in turnovers gained (34, eighth in points allowed (17.8 ppg, 13th in interceptions (18) and 17th in total defense (348.3 ypg).
As a player, Walters had a standout career as a safety at Colorado. He started 33 times in 46 contests for the Buffaloes, and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press and first-team All-Colorado honors from the state’s National Football Foundation his senior year.
A 2008 team captain for the Buffaloes, Walters was voted that season as team MVP by his teammates. He had 87 tackles, two sacks, seven pass deflections, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions as a senior. When his playing days ended, his 20 career passes defended rate No. 15 in Colorado history and his 223 career tackles were No. 45 all-time.
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